BE-86

[mhblaw]

Anyone have any experience with this new powder in cartridges like 44 Special and 45 Colt? I realize it is marketed for 9mm and 40 S&W, but curious about others.

 

[dougader]

You might check at the cast boolits forum. I've seen a few threads over there regarding this powder.

 

[forty5]

I have used Alliant B-86 in numerous calibers with good results. It is excellent in mid range 357 Magnum and 38 Special loads. But I have never used it in 44 Special or 45 Colt. Allilant lists loads for BE-86 in 45 Colt on their web site. But I don't know of any published Data using BE-86 in 44 Special. You might try calling or e-mailing Alliant to see if they have any data for 44 Special. The are usually very responsive.

 

[Mus408]

Some guy selling powders at a local gun show told me that this powder was an "improved" version of Unique....burns cleaner.

 

[hard nose street cop]

BE-86 works great in .380 with 90 Gr JHP's

 

[Rclark]

I haven't tested it yet, but from what I have read you load it just like Unique. I'd like to get my hands on a bottle to prove this out to my satisfaction... But so far BE-86 has been un-obtainable here....

 

[gster]

I shot some Lee 452-c300 last week end loaded with 7.2 gr. BE-86. They grouped 3" at 80 yrds. with my New Henry Steel .45 Colt.

 

[mhblaw]

I don't think it is an "improved" version of Unique as the powder grains are more like Bullseye and not flakes like Unique. That said, I have used it in 44 Special, but am at the office and cannot recall the weight of the powder, but it is a clean burner.

 

[gster]

I do know that it meters better than Unique through my PPM. No tap,tap needed.

 

[Rclark]

Finally ran on to some BE-86 today. Going to start testing with the o' .45 Colt first. I'll use 250g RNFP as the test bullet and CCI-300 (may test back to back with CCI-350s once I confirm some velocities). According to what I've gleaned the burn rate is close to Unique. We'll find out in the next few weeks....

{edited} Ok, loaded up my first test load 8.0g under 250g RNFP. Just 15 rounds to see where we are at. Meters really well, as it should, as it is a much finer grain than Unique. So maybe tomorrow afternoon weather permitting I can run it over a chronograph for the 'see' where we are at load.

 

[loaded round]

Have you checked the Alliant website regarding using this powder?

 

[ra]

I have loaded a couple of pounds in 9MM and 45 ACP, and I like the results. I have not loaded any 44 Specials with it yet but I have no reason to believe it would not work well, as Power Pistol is my favorite powder in 44 Special powder, and BE-86 is close to Power Pistol with a flash suppressor added.
Here is a thread on another forum about BE-86 with input from a Alliant employee-

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=760289

 

[Rclark]

Have you checked the Alliant website regarding using this powder?

Yep. And checked around the net as well. Saw the link mentioned above too with what the Alliant employee had said.

"I am very confident you will really like this powder. It is the same magic formulation as Bullseye(R) and Power Pistol(R), and virtually the exact geometry of Power Pistol. It is a little faster burning that Power Pistol though, and very similar to Unique(R), burn speed wise. "

Ran first test case today:
.45 Colt Ruger BH 5 1/2" barrel
8.0g BE-86, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, 886fps, 7 SD, 28 ES, 14 shots

Out of same pistol,

Unique 8.0g ran 922fps
Universal 8.0g ran 894 fps
20/28 8.0g ran 954fps

So at this point, I don't see it a 'match' with Unique. See how it looks with other loads now.

CFE pistol was close not as consistent.
CFE pistol 8.0g ran 889fps, ES of 43.

Never did test Power Pistol with the 250g RNFP.

 

[mike campbell]

What was the SD for the 8.0 grains of Unique?

 

[Rclark]

What was the SD for the 8.0 grains of Unique?

8.0g Unique, __250g RNFP, CCI-300, 922fps, 18 SD, 55 ES, 17 shots.
8.0g Universal, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, 894fps, 13 SD, 44 ES, 13 shots.
8.0g 20/28, ___250g RNFP, CCI-300, 954fps, 16 SD, 55 ES, 15 shots.

Have 7.5g, 8.0g (this time with CCI-350), 8.5g, and 9.0g under 250g RNFP ready to go. But will be a couple of weeks before I can test again .

---

Got the data for anyone that is interested 07/05/2016.

.45 Colt BH 5 1/2"
7.5g BE-86, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _870fps, _9 SD, 28 ES, 15 shots
8.0g BE-86, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _886fps, _7 SD, 28 ES, 14 shots
8.0g BE-86, 250g RNFP, CCI-350, _908fps, _8 SD, 27 ES, 14 shots
8.5g BE-86, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, _961fps, 13 SD, 44 ES, 15 shots
9.0g BE-86, 250g RNFP, CCI-300, 1000fps, 12 SD, 39 ES, 14 shots

 

[Rclark]

Checked out the .44 Special today.

Ruger .44 Special Flattop 5 1/2"

6.0g BE-86, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _808fps, 16 SD, 55 ES, 15 shots
6.5g BE-86, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _885fps, 15 SD, 51 ES, 14 shots
7.0g BE-86, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _931fps, 11 SD, 43 ES, 15 shots
7.5g BE-86, 240g SWC, CCI-300, _995fps, _8 SD, 23 ES, 15 shots
8.0g BE-86, 240g SWC, CCI-300, 1049fps, _6 SD, 22 ES, 14 shots

Unique loads out of same gun as a comparison:

6.0g -> 874fps
6.5g -> 933fps
7.0g -> 969fps
7.5g ->1033fps

If I was to pick, I'd probably go with 7.5g of BE-86 as my goto load. I need to reshoot 8.0g again though as the group seemed to open up... But that could have been me... Again, this is given for informational purposes only and worked fine in my revolver. YMMV.

 

[ditto1958]

I've experimented with it for .357 magnum. It seems to work well. Alliant seems to have succeeded in making a very versatile handgun powder.

 

[Rclark]

.32 H&R Mag
5 1/2" Single Seven

4.0g BE-86, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 994fps, 14 SD, 42 ES, 13 shots

Compared to :

4.0g Unique, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1095fps, 12 SD, 40 ES, 19 shots

Have loaded 4.5g BE-86 tonight for the last test with the .32 H&R mag. Want to 'match' the Unique load of aprox 1100fps.

{edited} Got out and shot the 4.5g load today:

4.5g BE-86, 115g RNFP, CCI-500, 1132fps, 12 SD, 39 ES, 19 shots

Probably mentioned elsewhere, but BE-86 meters much better than Unique at these small charges. Both these loads seemed to shoot fine, nothing stands out as 'the load'.